Indiana Pacers sign center Andrew Bynum

Feb. 1, 2014
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Bynum played 24 games with the Cavaliers this season. / Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

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The Indiana Pacers on Saturday announced the signing of free agent center Andrew Bynum for the rest of the season. According to a person with knowledge of the deal, he will be paid $1 million for the rest of the season. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because terms of the contract were not announced.

"We are obviously happy to have him join our team," said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird in a statement. "He gives us added size, he is a skilled big man and he has championship experience. With the minutes he gets, he should be a valuable addition."

The release says Bynum will join the team sometime next week.

"It really wasn't a hard decision, I think it's the right fit for me and, in all honesty, I think we've got the best chance of winning," said Bynum in a statement. "It will be great to back up Roy and I'll do whatever I can to help this team."

Anyone who has been watching the Pacers' season-long mission to unseat the two-time defending champion Miami Heat shouldn't be surprised by this move, as it gives them intriguing depth behind All-Star center Roy Hibbert. While Bynum is hardly the player he was when he averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2011-12 campaign, he showed signs of physical improvement in his 24 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers this season (averaging 8.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 20 minutes per game).

Bynum, who missed all of last season while with the Philadelphia 76ers because of continued knee trouble, had been a free agent since Jan. 7. The Pacers entered Saturday with an Eastern-Conference best 35-10 record and were three games ahead of the Heat.